Method and means for treating and filling tooth cavities and nerve canals



A. L. HARWN.l METHOD AND MEANS FOB TREATING AND FILLING TOOTH CAVITLES AND NEDVE CANALS.

Patented Eay,

APPLICATION FILED APR.2||1921. 1,417,379.

AJlllllllslmllllllmllll-llllllllllnarran srarss PATENT GFFICE.

ARTHUR L. HARVIN, Oli' lASHINGTON, ESTRXCT OF COLUMBIA.

METHOE AND MEANS FOR TR1-EATING AND FILLNG TOGTH. CAVITIES AND HERVE CANALS.

Application led April 21,

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, ARTHUR L. HARVIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at llfashington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Methods and Means for rllreating and Filling Toot-h Cavities and Nerve Canals; and l hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to dental practice for filling' tooth cavities where the nerve canals are involved and removal of the nerve, sterilizing the nerve canals, and filling the canals where required.

Usually, the process of removing a nerve from a root canal, the process of applying the medicament thereto and the process of filling` the same are distinct and separate. Ordinarily.r for the removal of a nerve, an instrument known as a nerve broach, which is in the form of a fine wire, is introduced into the root canal and is rotated to twist the nerve thereabout, after which the broach is removed, carrying the nerve therewith. The broach is then wrapped with an absorbent, saturated with a suitable medicament and is again introduced into the canal. Then in applying a filling, a broach or similar instrument is dipped into the filling material and introduced into the canal with a small quantity of the filling material adhering thereto. The filling material is deposited within the canal and the broach withdrawn. This operation is repeated until the Vcanal is filled.

These usual processes have marked disadvantages, since it is necessary to introduce an instrument into the root canal with resultant irritation of the tissues and danger of infection from a septic instrument. In applying the medicament, it is difficult to introduce the latter to all surfaces of the canal.y and in introducing the filling it is excessively difficult to locate the fillings at the extreme apex of the canal since, as the canal narrows toward its apex, the globule of filling upon the broach contacts with all cir'cuinscribirigl portions olf the canal wall,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1922.

1921. Serial No. 463,238.

21nd,- adhering thereto by capillary attraction, forms an air poclret between the filling and the apex of the canal. Such air pockets almost invariably cause subsequent root abscesses.

lt is therefore an object of -the present invention to produce a method by which a nerve may be removed from the root canal of a tooth, a medicament may be applied to the wall surfaces of the Acanal and then removed and a filling may be introduced to the canal without the introduction of an instrument into the latter, and without the possibility of leaving an air pocket between the filling' and the apex of ythe canal.

ln carrying out my method, l apply suction to the tooth cavity and the root canals, thus withdrawing the nerve from the tooth and creating a vacuum within the tooth cavity and the root canals. I maintain the vacuum thus formed in the cavity and canals and then open to the vacuum a chamber charged with medicament or disinfectant; behind said charge l admit air to said chamber. llVith the inrush of air to relieve the vacuum said charge (which lies in the passage way of the air) is sucked inward and fills said cavity and canals ahead of the air thus insuring access of the medicament to the innermost recesses of said canal. The medicament is then removed by pump suction and vacuum is again formed as before; then said chamber is charged with a fluent filling. which is likewise by vacuum action sucked into the canals and cavity in advance of the air as beforedescribed, thus avoiding the formation of air pockets in the nerve canals.

The accompanying drawings show a form of device l have invented to practice my invention and it is my object to design a dental instrument for carrying out the aforesaid method which may be readily attached to the well lrncwn dental engine usually installed for dental practice. I do not confine myself to this form of construction as other devices having equivalent features cpuld be employed in carrying out my invention and l reserve the exclusive right to make such 100 changes as 'may' be found necessary or a visable.r`

ln the accompanying drawings-'- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the complete v invention.

.'a tooth.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line ol' Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an elevation looking from the nozzle end of the device.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section on line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the turn plug in its other position.

Fig. 7 is a detail section illustrating aidifferent form oi connector.

Referring by numerals to component parts in the drawings, the present invention includes a centrifugal pump 10, including a casing 11, within which there is mounted the vaned rotor 12.

The casing 11 includes a front end wall 13, which has `formed integrally therewith, the circumscribing wall 14, to the otherwise free edge oli' which there is secured by suitable removable fastening devices 15, an end wall 16 for the pump casing.

Formed upon the outer face of the wall 13, there is a diametrically extending rib 17 provided with a longitudinally extending valve chamber 18, opening through the ends of the rib'and having a gradual taper from end to end.

A passage 19 is formed centrally through the wall 13, communicating with the interior of the pump easing and also communicating with the vchamber 18. The inner end el' this passage 19 is flared as shown at 20.

The rib 17 carries a forwardly extending centrally located integral interiorly threaded nipple 21 which receives the threaded rearward end of a nozzle shank 22, carrying a laterally directed nozzle 23 l end. A continuous passage' 24 is 'Formed through the nozzle and the shank 22 and communicates with a passage 25` termed in the nipple 21 andA communicating also with the chamber 18, at a point diametrieally opposite to the passage .19. y i

Removably engaged in the chamber-18 there is a rotatable turn plug` 26 which is tapered and which is ground into the 'chamber 16. This turn plug 26 carries a linger piece 27 at its major end, by which it may be turned in .the chamber 18, and by which it may be removed from the chamber.

Formed transversely through the turn plug 26 there is a port 28 adapted to register withthe passages 19 and 25 for the establishment of' continuous passageA from the outer end of the nozzle 23 into' 'the pump easing.

Formed upon the outer face of the wall 16 oi the pump casing there is an interiorly threaded nipple 29, which receives rtherein-to a hollow handle 30, which may consist of a number of assembled sections as illustrated in Figure 2. This handle is similar to the handles of other dental instruments adapted to be driven by a dental engine.

An opening 31 yis 'formed centrally in the wall 16 of the pump casing, and engaged through this opening and continued through the handle there is a pump shaft 32, carrying within the pump casing, the rotor 12. The rearward end of the shaft 32 is provided for engagement with the terminal connection oi' a dental engine shaft, to be driven thereby. This is indicated at 33 in the drawings.

The pump casing is provided with a tan genital discharge passage 34 formed through a cylindrical extension 35 on the circumscribing wall 14, and engaged with the outer end of the extension 35 there is a removable receiving device 36, in the form of glass bulb i'ormed with a circular neck 37 which receives the extension 35 therewithin. A. rubber gasket 38 is engaged between the extension 35 vand the neck 37. The upper portion of the bulb 36 is lioiaminous for the egress of air.

Employed in connection with the structure `iust set forth, there is a connector, in the form of a tapered sleeve 39, its taper conforming to the nozzle 23, whichy is also tapered, for fthe reception of the nozzle within the sleeve. sleeve is reduced to form a neck 40. The neck 40 of the sleeve 39 is adapted to be cemented into a cavity indicated at A.' in a tooth indicated at B to 'form an air-tight l union, and the iit between the nozzle 23 and the sleeve 39 is such as to entrance olf air therebetween.

lith the complete instrument connected with a tooth as just described, the motor is operated and air is exhausted from the tooth, as will be readily understood. Continued operation of the motor results in the application ot suction to the tooth cavity and the root canals indicated at C so that the nerve branches within the canal are withdrawn prevent the trom the tooth, carried through the pump and discharged into the receiver 36, the latter being provided so that the character ot matter removed from the tooth may be ascertained. 1n order that a medicament' and subsequently a filling maybe Vintroduced to the tooth, the turn plug 26 is provided with a vertical chamber 41 therewithin, this chamber having a discharge port 42 at its inner lower end which opens through the periphery of the plug 26 midway between the ends of the port 28 and in position for registration 'with the passage 25. An air inlet vent 42 is formed through the plug at the outer upper end of the chamber 41, and communicates with the latter.

It is obvious, from the showing in Figs.

The minor end of the port L3 is in registrawill be closed b. the chamber in registratie QS will be out oi rc sages 25 l :Vid l or `iilling i operated 11 es 96 is then turned fing I regis ration with passt` when air ei ing through port 42 will cause the vacuum to iirst suck in the contents ot chamber il and ll the nerve canals and tooth cavitj/f thus excluding the entry ci air thereto. l accomplish this important result by posi. tioning the chamber tl in the air duct line intermediate of said line and the vacuum relief vent, whereby the contents ot chamber all is iirst exposed to the vacuum influences and sucked into the nerve canals nlling the sume. rhe medicament or the iilling in the laterally disposed chamber al, normally bears directly on port 41E?, excluding the entrance ot air between said portand contents of chamber li.

rlhe turn plug 26 is readily removable from the chamber 18, as will be seen from the drawings, thus facilitating the sterlization ot the instrument, and also permitting the loading of the chamber -ll through the port d2 first with the medicament and subsequently with the fluent iilling.

1n Fig. l there is illustratedv a modilied t'orm ot connector`r wh ich consists oi: a rubber sleeve 5S which is engaged about the tooth, and uithin which the nozzle EZB is engaged l claim l. The dental method oi" removing the nerve and other matter trom tooth cavities and nerve canals, treating said cavity and canals to a medicament removing said medicament and i'inally filling said cavity and canals; which consists in removing by suction the contents of said cavity and canals, then continuing said suction to 'form a vacuum in said. cavity and canals, then eX- posing to the influence of said vacuum a medicament, then withdrwing` said medicament by suction then continuing said suction to 'torni a vacuum in said cavity and canals, and iinally exposing to the influence of said vacuum a filling 'for said cavity and canals.

2. rlhe method of treating teeth where the nerve canals 'are involved which consists in connecting air tight a duct to an opening in said canals, exhausting air suiiiciently to withdraw by suction the contents of said canal and then continuing said suction to form a vaccum in said canals and that portion or said duct adjacent said canals, exposing a medicament located in. said. duct invacuum and relief port then withdrawing said termeaiate of suie 'for said .f'acuum, medicament by air suction.

dental instru formed oif a rotary exhaust pump having a nozzle adapted 'for connection to a tooth cavity or nerve canal, a hollow turn plug for fluent matter Ytorniing a part of said nozzle and havingan air inlet duct and an air outlet port tor said matter located in position to communicate 7 with said nozzle when the plug is in position to interrupt communication between the nozzle and pump and to lie out of communication with the nozzle when the turn plug is in position to establish communication between the nozzle and pump.

4t. l. dental instrument including a pump, an inlet duct Yfor the pump, means for establishing communication between the passage of the duct and the tooth cavity and a revoluable reservoir positioned in the air duct line intermediate or' the pump and outer end o' nozzle, said reservoir being adapted to receive fluent matter therein and having an air inlet vent and a fluent discharge port interruptedly connected to said duct. Vllhereby saidV matter is 'forced by air pressure into the tooth cavity and root canals in advance of the air.

5. il dental instrument including a casing, a pump element within the casing and arranged 'for cooperation with the casing to form an operable pump structure, said casing having a turn plug socket formed therein, a duct communicating with the turn plug socket, said casing having an inlet passage ttor the pump communicating with the turn plug socket, a turn plug located in the socket and operable to establish and interrupt communication between the duct and the pump inlet passage, said turn plug having a reservoir therewithin and having an outlet communicating with the reservoir and located in position to communicate with the duct when the turn plug is in position to interrupt communication between the duct and pump and to lie out of communication with tie duct when the turn plug is in position to establish communication between the` duct and pump, said turn plug having a vent communicating with the reservoir and located in position to be closed by the casing when the reservoir outlet is out of communication with the duct and to be exposed when the reservoir outlet is in communication with the duct.

6. In combination, a dental instrument handle carrying a shaft operable by a dental engine, ot a pump connected to said handle and operated by said shaft, a pump nozzle adapted for airtight connection to a tooth cavity r nerve canals, an air duct line connecting said nozzle and pump, a chamber in said duct line having a cut-off therefrom and an. air inlet, said cut-od and inlet being posi- 8. In a dental instrument of the character described the combination of an air duct, a pump casing having. a tangential discharge passage, a foraminous receiver detachably connected to said passage, a handle connected to said casing a shaft mounted in said handle keyed to said 'motor and adapted to be operated by a dental engine.

In testimony that I claim the lforegoing 20 as my own, I aHiX my signature.

ARTHUR L. HARVIN. 

